Cognitive impairments associated with CFS and POTS.

Editor's Comment: This interesting review of the medical literature for CFS/ME and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) discusses shared features of both illnesses that might contribute to "brain fog": e.g., reduced blood flow and neurotransmitter dysregulation. The researchers conclude: "Further research should focus on the central nervous system as a possible gateway of understanding the etiology of these disorders..."

A few biological theories (i.e., kindling, impairments in the central nervous system, and difficulty with blood flow) have emerged as potential explanations for the cognitive deficits reported in both CFS and POTS Future research should continue to examine possible explanations for cognitive impairments in CFS and POTS, and ultimately use this information to try and reduce cognitive impairments for these patients.